COMMENT Anwar Ibrahim contesting the Kajang by-election in the wake of the Azmin Ali’s PKNS sacking, has led many to speculate that this is an internal power struggle and not the struggle for the people.

 

Despite Rafizi Ramli explaining in his article ‘The Kajang Move: A Game-Changer for Putrajaya’ that Anwar is contesting the by-election to meet Umno’s changing tack in intensifying racial and religious tensions, the media, for obvious reasons, continues to play up the internal power struggle angle.

It is not denied that the Kajang by-election is about governing Selangor, however, the objective is for the good of the people of Selangor and Malaysia and not for any individual within or without the party.

What has been forgotten in the hullabaloo and media speculation is that the people of Selangor and Malaysia will be better served with Anwar Ibrahim directly in the state to meet the coming economic difficulties and tense political times.

 

Horses for courses

 

Those saying the by-election is due to the purported feud between Azmin Ali and Khalid Ibrahim fail to mention that both Khalid Ibrahim and Azmin Ali support Anwar Ibrahim contesting the by-election.

 

They also omit to point out that PKR members and leaders have consistently acknowledged the strengths and weaknesses of Khalid Ibrahim’s administration.

 

Many harped on the fact that while accolades were showered on Khalid ( right ), there were also criticisms as proof of a feud.

 

It must be realised PKR is a reformist party. Its leaders and members speak without fear or favour.

 

They will not hesitate to point out what is wrong if they see something is not right nor will they withhold praise when credit is due.

 

What is important is the criticisms are constructive, made sincerely and genuinely for the good of the state government.

 

The concern has always been that the Pakatan government delivers to the people of Selangor.

 

It is on public record that delegates from Perlis to Sarawak from the Party’s 6th National Congress in 2010 at Kota Baru to the 9th National Congress on 25th May 2013, repeatedly voiced their concerns on Khalid Ibrahim’s policy of building a massive reserve instead of spending on development projects.

 

Khalid built up a reserve of RM3 billion from the RM760 million he inherited from BN in 2008.

 

In his winding up speech at the 2013 Congress, Khalid accepted that he was “frugal” because he is taught to look after other people’s money with utmost care.

 

It is acknowledged by all from Pakatan to his BN opponents, in particular, the auditor-general reports that Khalid had been financially prudent in running the state.

 

However, the implementation of state projects have not been satisfactory.

 

One example is the Auditor-General's Report 2012revealed Selangor only spent RM640.24 million or 56.3 percent of the RM1.14 billion it received from the federal government for the maintenance of non-federal roads between 2010 and 2012.

 

Even though the under-spending accumulated RM631.27 million in surplus funds, the report said it reflected inefficiency in managing funds provided by the federal government.

 

Furthermore, the report said a survey conducted by the Auditor-General Office of 545 respondents in Klang, Gombak and Shah Alam showed 80 percent of them expressing dissatisfaction with the conditions of the local roads.

 

Another problem is Selangor's drainage and irrigation department's (JPS) frequent answer for the woes caused by the repeatedly occurring flash floods and lack of flood mitigation projects is that there are no funds.

 

However, it has since been discovered that the Selangor JPS spent only RM45 million out of a RM67 million budget in 2012.

 

Therefore there are efficiency and co-ordination issues that have to be addressed.

 

Culture of inefficiency

Khalid cannot be faulted entirely because he inherited a civil service with a five decade culture of inefficiency and complacency.

 

However, Anwar is correct in being concerned with the tardiness in taking action and implementing measures for the benefit of the people.

 

Anwar at the Nov 24, 2013 Special Congress in Shah Alam said: “Pakatan Rakyat’s achievements are not measured in terms of whether there is a surplus or deficit in the budget but how we prioritise the needs of the public”

 

It is giving priority to the people’s needs that is the ultimate objective of the Kajang by-election.

 

Besides inefficiency there is also sabotage and non-cooperation by the agencies and privatised entities.

 

The public may not realise that throughout Khalid’s administration he has to do battle with forces bent on retaking the state through the withholding of services and non-co-operation by these agencies and privatised entities.

 

One example is Alam Flora’s sudden termination of municipal waste collection services.

 

The state had to scramble to appoint contractors to avert a disaster.  Another is the water supply shortages when the dams were full.

In the ongoing and protracted negotiations for the state to take back control of water distribution and the holding back of the Langat 2 Project, the National Water Services Commission (Span) has put on hold 878 development projects on the grounds that there will be insufficient water supply in the future. However Khalid points to the fact that there is sufficient supply presently.

 

The satisfactory resolution of these issues must not be at the expense of the Selangor people and requires the co-operation and talents of not only Khalid but all Pakatan leaders including Anwar.

 

Both Khalid Ibrahim, Azmin Ali ( right ) and all of the PKR leadership support the Kajang by-election because they are fully aware that Malaysians are about to face the perfect storm of economic hardship coupled with heightened political tensions.

 

There is an urgent need to batten down the hatches and strengthen the Selangor government leadership.

 

It is not a case of changing horses in midstream. It is to recognise that there are horses for courses.

 

There are three immediate concerns.

 

The first is the 1997 financial crisis is looming to be repeated.

 

The second is self-inflicted by the BN federal government putting the economy into a shock therapy by its fiscal structural adjustment measures.

 

The third is the escalating tension that is reaching May 13 levels instigated by irresponsible elements.

 

Any government, federal or state will welcome Anwar Ibrahim with his experience on its team as they prepare for the storm that will soon be unleashed by these three converging factors.

Tomorrow Part 2: Repeat of Asian financial crisis

WILLIAM JK LEONG is MP for Selayang, and treasurer-general of PKR.